diff --git a/src/dict.c b/src/dict.c
index e1f7fa2..c359e6f 100644
--- a/src/dict.c
+++ b/src/dict.c
@@ -188,7 +188,8 @@
 /*
  * Allocate a Dictionary item.
  * The "key" is copied to the new item.
- * Note that the value of the item "di_tv" still needs to be initialized!
+ * Note that the type and value of the item "di_tv" still needs to be
+ * initialized!
  * Returns NULL when out of memory.
  */
     dictitem_T *
@@ -201,6 +202,7 @@
     {
 	STRCPY(di->di_key, key);
 	di->di_flags = DI_FLAGS_ALLOC;
+	di->di_tv.v_lock = 0;
     }
     return di;
 }
@@ -338,7 +340,6 @@
     item = dictitem_alloc((char_u *)key);
     if (item == NULL)
 	return FAIL;
-    item->di_tv.v_lock = 0;
     item->di_tv.v_type = VAR_NUMBER;
     item->di_tv.vval.v_number = nr;
     if (dict_add(d, item) == FAIL)
@@ -361,7 +362,6 @@
     item = dictitem_alloc((char_u *)key);
     if (item == NULL)
 	return FAIL;
-    item->di_tv.v_lock = 0;
     item->di_tv.v_type = VAR_STRING;
     item->di_tv.vval.v_string = str != NULL ? vim_strsave(str) : NULL;
     if (dict_add(d, item) == FAIL)
@@ -384,7 +384,6 @@
     item = dictitem_alloc((char_u *)key);
     if (item == NULL)
 	return FAIL;
-    item->di_tv.v_lock = 0;
     item->di_tv.v_type = VAR_LIST;
     item->di_tv.vval.v_list = list;
     ++list->lv_refcount;
@@ -408,7 +407,6 @@
     item = dictitem_alloc((char_u *)key);
     if (item == NULL)
 	return FAIL;
-    item->di_tv.v_lock = 0;
     item->di_tv.v_type = VAR_DICT;
     item->di_tv.vval.v_dict = dict;
     ++dict->dv_refcount;